Generates an HTML report of ping tests for connectivity to the hosts in 'hostfile,' while is formatted as such:

{host}:{description}\n

Useful for admins who want to have a cron job intermittently check link status for router-router links, etc. Realize that if you can't ping the host, but can access it by other means this script will not work.

Interesting. I would, however, seriously consider removing the dependency on the external ping command and use Net::Ping. I think it would be safer, likely faster, and takes care of ping's root requirement on some platforms.

As I see it with Net::Ping you'd still be forced to run it as su
(unless you run echo service from (x)inetd).
It's all in the documentation...
Also, Net::Ping doesn't provide the same kind of output as system
ping, unless you want to twiddle with timers and timeouts.
I'd say that it would be neater here
to use "open(|/sbin/ping <opts>)".